• 03
  • September
    2010

One of the most difficult components of any divorce is child custody. As a dedicated parent, you want to ensure that you spend as much time as possible with your child/children, and that any outcomes or decisions reached are in their best interests.

Fortunately, most divorcing couples are eventually able to resolve their differences and create a mutually acceptable child custody/visitation plan that benefits their children. However, the process does not always proceed so smoothly, especially when the parents are from different countries.

Why is this so?

Different cultural views regarding parental roles and other factors can create further strife among the arguing spouses and result in bitter custody battles. Sometimes, the differences are so great that one spouse actually takes the child/children back to their native country without permission, resulting in accusations of international child abduction and a subsequent legal nightmare.

According to the State Department, the number of reported international child abductions in 2009 was 1,135. Three years prior, the number of reported abductions was only 642.

Experts correlate this dramatic increase in the number of international child abductions/custody battles with an increase in the number of international relationships.

What then is responsible for this rise in the number of international relationships? 

These same experts point to three primary factors: increased foreign travel, military operations abroad and immigration.

According to Donna Linder, executive director of Child Find of America, when parents of different nationalities come together to start a family it can result in significant "cultural differences that people may not be willing to compromise on."

Whatever the circumstances, dealing with international child custody issues can prove to be an uphill legal battle, especially if it results in allegations of international child abduction.

If you are currently involved in a child custody dispute or have questions regarding international child custody, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced legal professional. 

This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Stay tuned for more from our Denver divorce blog ...

Related Resources:
  
• Sharp Rise in International Parental Kidnapping Cases (The Washington Examiner)